Ministers have moved to align Great Britain’s product safety and metrology regimes with the UK–India trade agreement by widening who may be designated to test and certify regulated products. The Treatment of Conformity Assessment Bodies (Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between the Government of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of India) Regulations 2026 were made on 19 January 2026 and laid before Parliament on 21 January 2026. They commence immediately after the agreement signed on 24 July 2025 enters into force, with the commencement date to be confirmed by notice in the London Gazette.
The Statutory Instrument implements Article 7.7.9 (National Treatment – Conformity Assessment) of the UK–India Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement. It extends to England, Wales and Scotland only. The Department for Business and Trade’s Minister of State, Chris Bryant, signed the Regulations.
Substantively, the Regulations amend establishment requirements for ‘approved bodies’ or ‘notified bodies’ across multiple regimes so that, in addition to the United Kingdom and territories of CPTPP parties, the territory of the Republic of India is included. The change is made to the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011; Electromagnetic Compatibility Regulations 2016; Simple Pressure Vessels (Safety) Regulations 2016; Lifts Regulations 2016; Pressure Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016; Equipment and Protective Systems Intended for Use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2016; Non‑automatic Weighing Instruments Regulations 2016; Measuring Instruments Regulations 2016; Recreational Craft Regulations 2017; and Radio Equipment Regulations 2017. Equivalent amendments are made to retained EU Regulations 2016/425 on personal protective equipment and 2016/426 on gas appliances.
In practical terms, India‑based conformity assessment bodies become eligible, once designated by the Secretary of State, to carry out GB conformity assessment tasks under these regimes. This spans toys, electrical and electronic equipment subject to EMC rules, wireless and radio products, lifts and related safety components, simple pressure vessels and pressure equipment, ATEX‑rated equipment for explosive atmospheres, weighing and measuring instruments used for trade, recreational craft, personal protective equipment and gas appliances.
The change does not introduce automatic recognition of Indian certificates. National treatment requires that bodies established in India are considered for designation on terms no less favourable than UK or CPTPP‑based entities, but applicants must still meet the competence, impartiality and independence requirements set out in each instrument before they can issue results for GB market access.
The Regulations also adjust a technical provision in the Pressure Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 by adding India to the list referenced in Schedule 2, paragraph 31(8) on materials. This aligns the essential safety requirements with the broader change to establishment rules.
The approach builds on amendments made in 2024 to accommodate parties to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans‑Pacific Partnership. The Government has not produced a full impact assessment for the 2026 instrument, stating that no significant impact is foreseen, and an Explanatory Memorandum is available on legislation.gov.uk.
Timing is the immediate operational issue. Although the instrument is laid, it takes effect only when the UK–India agreement enters into force. The Secretary of State must publish the entry‑into‑force date in the London Gazette. Until that notice is issued, existing arrangements remain in place.
For manufacturers, importers and distributors placing goods on the GB market, the practical effect will be a potential expansion in the pool of bodies able to undertake UKCA‑relevant assessments in the listed sectors once designations are made. Technical standards, labelling and documentation obligations under GB law are unchanged by this instrument.
Market surveillance authorities should anticipate certificates and assessment reports issued by designated India‑based bodies after commencement. The instrument does not extend to Northern Ireland, where separate arrangements continue to apply; the change is confined to Great Britain’s regimes.